Envelop-machine.



No. 893,110. PATENTED JULY 14, 1908. v W. E. SWIFT.

,ENVELOP MACHINE; APPLICATION FILED-00121. 19 04.

2 SHEETS-SHBET 2.

i8 'Inuenior A norny WMQrd-ESLULH.

' Machines, of which t illustrate the nature of UNITED STATES P i ENT onrion.

WILLARD E. SWIFT, or WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR To UNITED STATES EnyELonMAomNE.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, WILLARD E. SWIFT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Worcester, in the county ofv worcester and 'Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Im rovement in Envelopiie following is a specifiby drawings, which Figure 1 represents a side view of so much of an envelop machine as is necessary to my present invention. Fig. 2 1s. a plan view of an envelop blank having a strip of transparent paper applied thereto. 3 is a top view of the envelop ma- Fig. 4 is a detached view of that porcation accompanied forming a part of the same, in

chine. tion of the mechanism concerned in ap lying a transparent strip to the envelop lank.

Fig. 5 represents on a larger scalefand in sec; ti'onalv view a portion of the mechanism for a plying a transparent stri to the envelop blhnk. Fig.6 is a detail view of thedevice for registering; the envelop blank on the pressing table, an'dFig. 7 is a detached view of cams 31 and .44, shown by broken lines in Fi 1. H

Similar reference letters and figures refer to similar parts in the different views.

My present invention-relates to a mechanism for manufacturing that class of envelops which are designed to disclose a printed or written address upon the inclosure, and this result is accomplished in the class of envelo s referred. to by forming an opening in the body portion of the envelopusually occupied by thefa ddress and covering the opening with athin--'transparent sheet of paper, such, for example, as Japanese rice paper. The inclosure to be used in an envelop of this class is provided with an address placed in suitable position to register with'the opening in the envelop and be disclosed through the transparent strip of paper covering the opening.

The object of my present invention is to provide means for a plying the transparent covering to the'o ening of the envelop, and I have shown intheaccompanying drawings the mechanism embodying my invention, as

applied to an envelop machine in which the additional operations of gumming andfolding the envelop blank are performed. I do not confine myself, however, to the embodiment of mechanisms for gumrning and foldingthe envelop blank, 111 a machine for applying a tra giiparent cover to the open ng 1n Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed October 1, 1904. Serial 110,226,728. 7

' the envelop,

. but for commercial machine.

parent paper 9 Ipawls 16 which hold the blank returned at the Patented .rui 14,1908.

hereinafter described and shown in the accompanying drawings which relates specifically to the. operation ofapplying a transparent covering to the opening of the envelop lank may obviously be employed separately fromthe gumming and folding mechanisms; reasons it is preferable to employ it in cooperation with the mechanisms which are now commonly em loyed for gumming the envelop blank and orfolding. the gummed blank into an envelop and I have. therefore shown and described such mechanism in combination with the gummingand folding mechanisms of an envelop- Referring to the accompanying drawings 1 denotes the frame of an 2 a blank supporting table, 3 a pile of envelop blanks heldther'eon.- Each of the enas that part of the mechanism envelop machine,

velop blanks is cut substantially in the form .1

shown 1n Fig. 2 with an elongated'openingA formed'in the body of'the envelop and in the position usually occupied by the address, said opening 4 being indicated in Fig. 2 by a broken line. Above" the pile ofenvelop blanks 3 are the ried'upon a vertically reciprocating rod 7, the gumming die 5 being employed to apply gum upon the edge of the back flap of the blank in the position shown at 8., Fig. 2, and the die 6 is employed to apply gum on a narrow margin around the opening 4 in order to provide the means of adhesion of a strip of thin transwhich covers the opening 4 as shown in Fig. 2. Gum is applied to the under surfaces of the gumming dies 5 and 6 by means of a traversing roll 10 which receives its supply from a gum roll 11 revolving par: tially immersed in a gum box 1 The operation of gumming the envelop blank and raising the blank by its adhesion to the gummed surfaces-of the (lies-5 and 6. is the same as that now practice in envelop of my 'jpresent invention. As the topmost blank of the pile 3 is gummed and raised by the dies 5 and 6, its rear edge is then seized by a hinged gripper 13 on a reciprocating gumming dies 5 and 6 carmaohineain'bommon use and forms no part v carriage 14, and the blank is drawn-toward 05 beneath horizontal position to be engagedby from being next forward movement of the rear of the machine guides 15 into the carriage.

At the next rearward-movei 4O v present invention, and it consists inprovidis a reciprocating presser foot 24 capable of y the p se r P oj t j spur's 17 on the carriageand'carriedover a pressingtable 18 where it:isfretained from.

'ment of thecarriag'e the envelop blank held reverse .movementby pawlsl thenext rearward movement of-th'e carria ethe blank is engaged by spurs20' andcarrred-beneath' a verticallyreciprocating t p which it is pushed downwar through -a rec' tangular hole, in"a ..creasi'ng plate 22 upon' a foldin bedwh'e reits'fia s-arefolded-overb. hinge [folders 23 achfenvelopv bla therefore in itsmovement' from the pile of,

- blanks .3 'to the folding mechanism remains for a period at 're'stover the (pressing table 18. The above operations. an the. mechanisms by which they ,are performed, 'with the exshown and described'in Letters Pa-tent (if-the United States, No.-'401,462, issuedtoA. A.

Rheutan, April 16, 1889, andfor m no'part of my present invention. --The only addition ,I make to the gumming, carrying and folding mechanisms of the Rheutan envelop-machine consists in the gumming die' 6 designed toapply a' narrow strip of gum around the hole or opening 4 which has been previously formed in the'envelo'p blank.

While the envelop blank with gum applied around its .openingz4dwells, in aposition of rest over the pressing table 18 and is retained by the pawl 19, I apply thereto a transparent strip or patch of paper 9 large enough to cover the opening 4 and overlap the envelop blank so as to entirely cover the gummed-surface around the opening 4-,;the position of the p atch 9 being represented 'in Fig. 2, and the mechanism for'applying the patch of transparent paper -to cover the opening in the envelop blankforms the subject matter of my lnga pressing table 18, firmly supported upon the framework of the machine and arranged i to support the envelop blankduring the pressing operation; Above the pressing table 18 sliding in vertical ways 25 and attached to a link 26 whichis pivotally connected at its upper end withan arm 27 attached to a rock shaft 28journaled in the'framework of the One end of the rock shaft 28 is provided with a radial arm 29 which is pivotally coni nected to a .linkv3G" actuated by a carn 31 which serves to hold the presser foot 24 in an elevatedposition' during the move- -ment of the envelop blank but allows the pre'sser foot to descend during the period of dwell of the envelop blank on the table 18 by means ofa spring 32, attached at one end to a bracket 33 held on the link and at its opposite end .to the framework of the machine.

The transparent paper from which the patch Qisformed is supplied from a coil 34 in a conv tinueu s strip whose width is equal to the se eentire length of the patch ,The continuous. strip of'transparent paper; is carried between feed rolls'36 and 3 7- the upper of said an intermittent motion my means ofa ratchet Wheel ournaled on I y connected servesto raise the-swinging arm 41 to'its by-a spring 45 eonnectingthe link 43 with the frame of .the machine; As the continuous 'stri p--35 is fed forward by the intermittent 'IIIOti01i of the feed rolls 36 and 37 it-is 'pro ;ject.ed through a guide tube 46, Fig. 5, and

throu h air-opening 47 across a "stationary shear 'lade 48 and is fedforward at each intermittent motion of the feed rolls 36 and 37 beneath the presser foot 24 in the position denoted at 49, Fig. 5. The'envelop blank is secured on the pressing table 18 in proper position to bring its opening 4 in registration with the overhanging atch-oftransparent paper 49, byga device s own in Figs. 4 and 6, consisting of a short rock shaft 50,journaled beneath thepressing table and carrying a pair of radialarms 51 tothe free ends of which fare adjust-ably attached registering pins 52 capable of 'a vertical sliding movement in lugs 53 as the shaft .50 is rocked. The shaft is provided-with a thirdradial arm 54 extend ing obliquely downward andcarrying on its highest position and allows it to be lowered I a distance equal to the width of the patch 9 4 free-end a roll 55 held in the path of an arm 56 which is carried by the reciprocating carriage 14 and arranged to contact withthe roll 55 at the roper period and rock the'shaft 50 to carry t 1e registering pin 52 above-the upper surfaceof the pressing table 18 and in position to engage the edge of the envelop blank and hold it in proper position .on the pressing table '18 with its opening 4 registering with the end 49 of the transparent strip of paper.

The operation of my improved machine is as follows :The envelop blank, gummcd around the hole 4 by the die 6 and lifted -from the pile 3 of blanks by the gum'ming dies 5 and 6, is seized by the gripper 13 and drawn toward the rear of the machine by the reciprocating carriage 14. At the next forward movement of the carriage the blank is engaged by the spurs l7 and on the next rearward movement carried over the table ]8.' By the rearward movement of the carriage the registering pins 52- are carried above the table'l8, thereby enga ing theenvelop'blank and holding it in the esired osition on the table 18. During the next orwardmove- -ment of the carriage, the strip 35 of transparent paper, is fed over the hole 4 in the blank from the roll 34 by. means of the partial revolution of the roll 36, driven by the ratchet wheel 38 actuated by the cam 44.

The/presser foot 24 then descends, actuated by the cam "31, severing, by mean's'of the knife 48, the transparent piece 9 from the strip 35, and carrying it forcibly'into contact tinuous strip into a stationary position over.

with the gummed surface around the hole 4. After this operation is completed the blankis engaged by the spurs 20, the carriage having com leted aforward movement, and is carried eneath the folding mechanism by the next rearward movement of the carriage.

VYhat I claimas my invention and desire to secure by-Letters'Patent is 1. In an envelo machine, the combination of the fol owing instrumentalities;

means for gumming'a portion of an envelop blank, a pressing table, a reciprocating car;

riage for transferring-the gummedblank to said pressing table, means for holding the gummed blank'in registration onsaid pressing table, means for feeding the end of a consaid blank while it is held .on said table, means. for severingsaid strip, means for brin ing the severed piece. into contact with the lank and exerting a pressure thereon,

, means'on the reciprocating carriage for en aging said blank. .30 I

ing said blank and carrying it to a fol 'ng mechanism anda folding mechanism for fold- 2. In .an envelopv machine, the .combina tion with a pressing .mechanism comprising a stationary member, a feeding mechanism for feeding a gummed envelop blank to said pressing mechanism, with the ungummed side of said blank in contact-with said, stationary member, means for determining the position of said blank in contact with said stationary member, means for feeding the end of a continuous strip in registratmn with the gummed portion of said blank, and means for severing a portion from the end of saidstrip and ca ing said severed portion into contact with said blankand exerting pressure thereon. I

3. In an envelop machine, the combina'- tion with means for applying adhesive material to a portion of an envelop blank, a press ing mechanism comprising a stationary member, a reciprocating carriage for transferring the gummed blank to said pressing mechanism, with its'ungummed side in contact with said stationary member, means for I determining the position of said blank incon-j I tact with said stationary member, means for feeding the end of a continuous strip in reg istration with the gummed portion of said blank, means for severing a portion from the a end of saidstrip and bringmgbsaid severed portion into'co'ntact with said bank and "ex erting pressure thereon, and means on said reciprocating carriage for engaging the blank and removing it fromIsa-i: pressing mechan-' -'1sm:

ous strip to said blank during its period of dwell, said means comprising a pressing mechanism, a feeding mechanism for feeding.

the end of a continuous strip into a stationar position over said blank in its period of dwel a cutting mechanism for severing said continuous strip, and means for actuating said feeding, pressing and cuttin durin the period of dwell of t e blank.

5. 11 an envelop machine, the combination with the gumming and folding mechanism, and means for feeding an envelop blank from said gumI nin isms, with. a perio' of dwell, ofmeansinterto said folding mechan mechanisms I posed between said gumming-and'said foldmg mechanisms for ap'plyinga transparent strip to the envelop blank, and comprising a with said table, a pair of feed rolls for feeding a continuous transparent strip, means for pressing table a presser foot cooperatlng f imparting an-intermittent rotary motion to said feed rolls, an inclined gulde for said strip asit leaves said feed rolls, a cutting mechanism, a fixed pressin table and a reciprocatin presserfoot, an means for'actuatin sai feeding, cutting and ressing mec anisms during the period of dwe of the envelop blank. 7 Dated this 27th da .of Se tember1904, W LAR E. SWIFT. Witnesses:

CHARLEs E. CA'DHER', PnnELoPE OQMBERBACH. 

